Altruism and mental disorders

Data suggest that the theories of kin selection and reciprocal altruism are viable working models to explain altruistic behavior. It remains to be demonstrated if these models can explain the behavior of persons with mentaL disorders for whom altruistic behavior is reported to be reduced. This paper...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ethology and sociobiology 1994-09, Vol.15 (5), p.299-321
Main Authors: McGuire, Michael T., Fawzy, Fawzy I., Spar, James E., Weigel, Ronald M., Troisi, Alfonso
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Altruism
Benefits
Character
Cooperativeness
Costs
Dysthymic disorder
Family relations
Heritability
Human evolution
Mental illness
Personality
Personality disorders
Temperament
Trait recognition
Trait signaling
Trait variation
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Summary:Data suggest that the theories of kin selection and reciprocal altruism are viable working models to explain altruistic behavior. It remains to be demonstrated if these models can explain the behavior of persons with mentaL disorders for whom altruistic behavior is reported to be reduced. This paper addresses this issue. Part I reviews proximate factors that are thought to influence both altruistic decision making and interindividual variation in altruistic behavior. The focus is on trait signaling by potential beneficiaries and the evaluation of signals and altruistic decision making by potential altruists. In Part II, points developed in Part I are combined with clinical and empirical findings to analyze data on personality disorders and dysthymic disorder. The analysis leads to three causal hypotheses: Reduced altruistic behavior may be an evolved strategy, a consequence of dysfunctional recognition systems or algorithms, and/or a secondary response to an increase in symptoms. Different disorders and features of disorders are explained by each hypothesis.
ISSN:0162-3095
DOI:10.1016/0162-3095(94)90005-1